English
distantly
Distantly comes from Latin distāns ‘standing apart’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sth₂éh₁yeti‘to stand’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*staējōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*staēō‘to stand’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstō‘to stand’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdistō‘to stand apart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdistāns‘standing apart’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400distant
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500distaunt
- English1500–presentdistant
- Englishearliest quotation 1930distantly
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sth₂éh₁yeti‘to stand’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*staējōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*staēō‘to stand’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstō‘to stand’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdistō‘to stand apart’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdistāns‘standing apart’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400distant
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500distaunt
- English1500–presentdistant
- Englishearliest quotation 1930distantly
Earliest quotation: 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap: “Don't go," he implored. "I must," said Millie distantly.”
A compound of distant + -ly
Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
…
Latin distō ‘to stand apart’
Latin distāns ‘standing apart’
Old French distant
Middle English distaunt
English distant
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
state, system, post, stay, stand, constitution, stood, contest, stadium, stable, destination, stem, consistent, assist, testimony, destiny, resist, static, insist, consist, prostitution, stud, persistent, prostitute, stool, substitution, persist, attest, restitution, stamina, stale, stead, solstice, testimonial, armistice, destitute, astute, subsistence, stow, detest, 142 more
through Proto-Italic *staējō
establishment, instability, 16 more
through Proto-Italic *staēō ‘to stand’
arrest, establish, stability, stationary, instantaneous, restive, instantiation, 18 more
through Latin stō ‘to stand’
rest, stage, station, instance, substance, instant, oust, extant, obstetric, 28 more
Today it means
adv At a distance.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- / distantly